Automatic phonograph



"Sept 16,1924. y

- M. L. ORD' AUTOMATIC PHOOGRAPH Original Filed Aug.A 4, I 9 SheetS-Sheet l y V N Sept. lle 41924.

M. L.. v@RD AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAH original Filed A 1920 9 sheets-sheet I NVEN TOR,

5M. L. @RU

AUTOMANG PHONOGRAPH Original Filed Aug. 4, 1920 9 Sheets-Sheet K I N VEN TOR.

W. L, ORD

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Original Filed Aug. 4A 1920 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TOR. ,Q7/M @L4 Sept 165. 1924.

M. L. ORD

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 9 sheets-sheet v Original Filed Aug. L 1920 m m m Sm, m, 1924. Y www2 M. L. ORD

AUTOMAT I G PHONQGRAPH Original Filed Aug. 4, 1920 Q Sheets-Sheet 8 .INI/ENTOR.

M'. L.. @Ri

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 4, 1920 9 Sheets$hee I INVENTOR.

l@riginal Filed Aug.

A`liii)atei'ited Sept. i6, i924.

' successively removing the records from the nire MAECOLNL. can, or INDEPENDENCE, Kansas AUTQMATIC PHONOGRAPH.

Application 1ed- August 4, 1920, Serial No. 401,105.-

-Toall whom t may concern.'

`Be it known that I, MALCOLM L. ORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Independence, county of Montgoniery,y State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Automatic Phonograph, vof which the following is -a specification.

The objectof my invention is to provide -novel means-for successively7 placing a series ofdisk type records on suitable turntables automatically revolved into position for receiving them; to provide novel Ameansl for turntables after they have been played once or after having been automatically repeated any number o predeterminedtim'es; to pro- `lvi e novel rotary means for'supporting a plurality of `turntables and rotating same to the appropriate position for receiving, for playing and for removing the records during the automatic operation of the phonograph; to provide .an apparatus to hold a. series of either ten or twelve inch disk -records and adpated to play any of the standard types equally as well, such apparatus also adapted to eject the records it supports, one at a time, -upon a turn table positioned to receive the same; to provide novel means for putting on and removing the records by mechanisms that come in conl'tact only with the portion ofthe records near their outer edge so as to obviate possibility of injury to the sound grooved portion of the record; to provide novel means for automatically repeating any one or all of the records before proceeding to the playing of the successive record, for any redetermined number of repetitions; an to provide an improved tone arm and improved reproducing mechanism, including novel means for regulating the feeding operation of the reproducerv while playing a record and for returning same toV its starting position, after a record has been played or repeated; it is also an object of my invcntion to provide a tone arm and throat without sharp bends or flexible elbows which might tend to'reduce the volume of the tone or break up `the sound waves. ther myobjectto provide a comparatively simple vmechanism for performingthe numerous and complex operations which are automatically performed by-tliis machine; and to provide an apparatus so as to permit of its being mounted in a cabinet of suitable size and design for home use, and

It is furf.

capable' of bein successfully operated any one. It is l'rther an object of my in-f vention to provide a phonograph which is electrically automatic in all of the' operations Renewed January 19, 1922. Serial No. 530,494: i

of putting on, playin and' taking off of a series of records o varying diameters,

and repeating any of the desired record or records in the series as many times as predetermined b'y the operator. It is' also 'an object of my invention to provide a mechanism which will operate. with practically no noise, so that no undesirable sound will be heard during thechanging or repeating of records. It is further an object of my invention to provide electrical operation Q throughout to obviate -the cranking necessitated by springactuatedoperation. It is further an 'object of my invention to provide novel means adapted to be readilyattached to the records whereby when the end of the record tone groove is reached by' the needle an electric circuitvw'ill be closed through said means to cause the malchine to function and complete the operation of changing or repeating the records.

I attain these and other objects lof my invention by the mechanism disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in .which Figure 1 is a top plan, showing the upper turntable removed to allow view of mechanism beneath;

Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is-a similar fragmentar cross-section showing vated position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 6- -'6 ofFig.1;'

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssection on line 7-*7 of Fig. 1, showing re-V producer and telescopic tone tube extended to end of record;

Fig. 8 is Aa horizontallongitudinal sectional view approximately on line 8-8 of F ig. 2;

reproducer assem ly in elefw l 105 Fig. 9 isy a detail view showing lock 16A lio Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of recordholding and ejecting carriage 96;

Fig. 13 is a view of toothed rack on solenoid core;

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of sliding table used for setting record repeat;

Fig. 15 is a detail view of ratchet, gear and hub 163b and 163;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuits used to operate the mechanism.

Fig. 17 is a detail view of mechanism used in causing record tables to advance toward turn-tables; and

Fig. 18 is a detail view of members 88, 86 and 87'.

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view showing return spring 53at on shaft 49 and adjacent parts;

Fig. 20 is a detail elevational view of a suitable electric motorfor replacing solenoids 56 and 166, mentioned on page 26, lines 7-14.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals and letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, I provide a suitable cabinet 1 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which' is contained an aluminum sub-base 2 to which all supports of the mechanism are eitherintegral or bolted thereon and which isaniounted on rubber pedestals 3 to insulate against sound board effect of cabinet during play-` ing. Mounted'on sub-base 2 I provide central supports 4 as shown in Fig. 4, on which is mounted a stationary ring 10. Rotatably mounted on ring 10 I provide an annular bearing 7 on which the turntables 11, of which there are four, are mounted. I further provide an annular bearing 8 rotatably mounted on ring 10 and supporting solenoid coil 86" whose core 87 is in varying active engagement with stops 89 mounted on' bearing`7 for the purpose of rotating this bearing at time of record change. 'I further provide that members 7 and-8 are both ball bearing elements; bearing 8 rotates parallel to and independent of bearing 7 except at desired` intervals when core 87 operatively engages and actuates the latter.

, `I provide record-h0lding turntables 11,

shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7, of which there 'are four, mounted at right angles to one another on the outer circumference of the annular bearing 7. Each of the turntables 11 is provided with an annular recess 12 suitably positioned to permit of the entrance of the ends of the toothed record-advancing racks 128 to engage the records for removal of the same when they are of teninch' diameter and when such a series is being played. I provide on each of the turninverted.

inceste tables 11 suitable miter gears 13, as shown in Fig. 2, acting as hubs forV the turntables 11. Each turntable 11 is provided with central shafts or record-centering pins 14 projecting above the turntables for locating the records thereon, and projecting below and through the miter gears 13 to engage in corresponding openings or journals 15 in the annular bearing 7 the centering pins are made pointed to allow records to be easily slipped on and off of the turntables. I provide permanent locks 16 adapted to engage a grooved portion of the turntable shafts 14 to prevent said turntables 11 from dropping off when they are rotated to their lowerinost position, at which point they are I provide a metal horn throat 5, as vshown in Fig. 4, which terminates at and concentrically fastens onv ring 10 connecting with wooden amplifying sound chamber 6 through ring 10, said ring 10 constituting an actual part of the amplifying sound chamber of which 1t is an extension.

l-Iinged to horn throat 5 at its small end,

by hinge 22, is a base 24, as shown in Figs. 3- and 4, of insulated material, on which is mounted an adjustable tone arm 26 into which telescopes the floating tone. tube27, which latter member is supported on re producer carriage 66. I provide a suitable cam 17 on bearing 8 for raising hinged base 24, by means of a plunger pin 18 sli'd ably mounted in a suitable supportand bearing 19, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the other end of the plunger pin 18 being in operative contact engagement with a bellcrank or elbow lever20, which in turn is connected by a link 23 to an insulated lever 21 which engages the hinged base 24 in such a manner as to raise and Alower same.

Mounted on hinged base 24, in spaced relation from adjustable tone arm 26, I provide reproducer carriage supporting arms 25 adapted to support the reproducer carriage 66 while saineis passing over record during playing and returning it to starting point ofv next record; the raising of arms'25, as shown in Fig. 4, cause carriage 66, to which reproducer is fastened, to recede by` gravity into adjustable tone arm 26, returning the reproducer 65 fiom extended position, as shown in Fig. 7, to receded position, shown in Fig. 4.

In order that the reproducer 65 may be fed along over the record automatically.

so as to relieve the tone thread of the record A vings 29.'A Permanently mounted on the hon-'rI threadedend of lead screw 28, as shown in Figs.' 1,3 land 4, I provide a cog wheel` or.

gear 30 in one-toone ratio with its drivingA gear 30 and' gear 35. Spaced. from also permanently mounted on shaft 28I Iv provide a'one-andone-half to one gear 31,

Iwhich -is utilized to make the lead screw adjustable for the operation of the machine with Edison or'similar records having 'one hundred and fifty threads'to the inch. Aly `ternately meshing with to gear ratio needed onV gear 30', according ead screw, I provide a suitablezjgear 35 for driving' the alternately meshing with l for ratio change, I provi e a gear 36 -forj leadI screw 28 atthe'one-to-one speed; and ear 31 to allow driving the lead screw 28 at a one to, oneand-onehalf speed. I provide a collar hub 37 permanently supporting gears 35 and ,36, said hub being keyed-to a shaft 33'by a suitable sliding key-way 38 to allow for the .sliding of collar hub 37 on shaft 33 during the change of gears. Shaft-33 is mounted on suitable bearings 34 and on its other endA gears 35-and 36 with the lead screw gears 30 and 31, and thus change the speed of the lead screw. Shift lever 39 is p-ivoted on a suitable bracket 40.

To operate the turntables 1l when in playing position, I provide an electric motor 41g shown in Figs. 1 and 3, on which is mounted a friction wheel 42 carried by the extended upper end of the motor shaft. The outer edge of the friction wheel 42 engages the outer edge of recesses 12 of the turntables 11 as saine come .into playing position. I provide a governor of conventional type for ycontrolling the. motor speed, this governor being mounted by spiral gears on motor shaft of motor 41, and being regulated by suitable adjusting screw 47. I provide a spring controlled plunger 44 bearing against the motor 41 tor the purpose of causing the friction wheel 42- to press against the edges of the turntable recesses 12,. thereby en` gaging'same to cause a revolution of eighty revolutions per minute plus or uiinus any reasonable yvariation in speed to suit -the tempo of the record being played; this being done by regulation of governor 43. To limit or control the tension .of the friction wheel 42 against'the' turntables 11 as they come in contact with it, I provide an adjustable. stop 45 which yengages the motor 41. The motor 41 is mounted on a pivoted bracket 46, vthe bracket 46 being pivoted so incassa as. to allow the .necessary 'tilting forward fof the motor-V 41 and the friction wheel 42 so' as to bring the latter into ,engagement with'the edge Yof the turntable recesses 12. y

Tof'provide smooth even operation of the turntables -1 v"Iliana .placed an armature 203 in motor"41fo very large diameter and unusual weig'litfwliiclif acts .as a ily-wheel to create steady revolution -of motorshaft and thereby overcome .any slight- .speed variationsdue to a possible fiuctuation in the electric current.- For' the purpose of rotating bearing 7 (which carries the` turntables 1.1) and the cam 17 for lifting the.l vhinged base 24 after .a record has been played, I v providea solenoid vcoil 56 mounted on a suitablebase support 57 and magnetically controlling the steel solenoid core 53 which on its extended lateral side supports a .rack of limited slidable motion..

52 which rack 52, together with the steel core 53, is normally heldin elevated position by a suitable spiral or clock spring 53u mounted on "shaft 49. When 'solenoid 56 is energized it pulls armature 53 down all the way until it. hitsthe end of lever 62, A

which breaks the circuit -to the solenoid 56 rand spring 53a is fully wound. Assoon as the circuit is-broken the spring simply acts to reverse 4the rotation of the shaft 49, which restores the armature 53 to .its-original position.

The toothed rack 52 engages av spur gear 51 which is permanently mounted on the inner end of the. driving shaft 49 which shaft is mounted on bearings 56; and' `on its outer' end carries a permanently.

mounted vspur gear 48 which meshes with 'f gear 9 to revolve bearing 8 when a change of records 4or a repeat is in sequence. provide a spring 55, -as shown in Fig. 13, at the upper end ofthe steel core 53 t0 relieve tension between slidable rack 52 and spur gear 51 when the core 53 is pulled slightly past the stopping point of rack 52 for the-purpose of resetting the L-shaped armature 60. The resetting of this armature breaks the circuit through the solenoid coil 56 allowing spring V53m to return the mechanism actuated by solenoid 56. to its l.

plate 7 5, as shown in Figs. 10' and 16, which has been attached to each record and which extends from the center of the record to the end of the record groove) an L-shaped switch armature 60 mounted 'on a pivot 61 and provided with a hook 64 which is adapted to hold. a movable circuit contact lever 62 a suitable arm 67 asv its extension.

to a suitable carriage 66 which supports the 1 reproducer and also the telescopic tone tube Q7, As the reproducer pivotally supported at 68 relative to the reproducer carriage 66. free vertical and horizontal movement is permitted suflicient to' overcome any irregularity in the record or turntable, without *interfering with the foiwvard movement of lead screw Q8 which is positive and nontle.ible. I provide a suitable L-shaped insulated lever 69 mounted on carriage 66 and having its lower end in operative engagement with the lead screw 28 by means of a semi-floating` half nut 72 threaded to correspond with the thread of the lead screw (one hundred threads per inch). The arm 69 is held in cugagcnient with the lead screw 28 when tone arm is down in playing' position by a suitable spring 7l. It is with in the contemplation of my invention to employ a suitable weight in lieu of the spring 7l. The carriage 66 is movably moimtcd on rollers 73 which ride on supporting arms 25.

rlhe plates 75, as shown in l() and il, are used on the records to provide a conduit for the electrical current from the record centering shaft let to the end ol' the record grooves when contact is made by brush 7l as reproducer comes to end of record. I provide springs v7 6, as shown inFig. 9, passing through shafts 14 which make positive metallic contact between the metal plates75, Figsl lO and 11, on thc record and shafts 14. In consequence ofv the `fact that the metal plate75 extends to the end of the record groove, an immediate changing of records is effected as soon asA the playing is finished and similarly When a record is to be repeated,- the repeating is done without delay.

The turntables 11 are locked in position for playing by means, of an automatic stop shaft 77 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, which is adapted to engage in recesses 78 of bearing` 7. These recesses 78 are disposed in the same relative position on bearing 7 as the turntable.

Shaft 77 is mounted on suitable bearing 79 and is loosely mounted so as to permit. of longitudinal and limited clockwise rotary motion. I provide a suitable cam 80 on bearing 8 which is adapted to engage. the arm 8l (as shown in Figs. l and 6) on shaft 7 7 and thereby to cause shaft 77 to move rearwardly out of engagement with recesses 78 in bearing 7 to permit the latter vto rotate and move the turntable into the next position. The action of cam Y80 takes place on the rotation of bearing 8 before the core 87 engages -With ratchet stops. 89; this releases the lock shaft 77 before the rotation o bearing 7 commences. During the first part of the revolution before bearing 7 starts to revolve, cam 17 has raised reproducer 65 ott of the record, thereby clearing the record turntables which are then about to turn into new position; this action eliminates any danger of needle dragging across record. I provide`l a sprinf"82 which keeps endwise tension on shaft (7 to insure the latter entering` thel recesses 78 at the proper time. I alsov provide a spring 83 allowing a limited clockwise rotation of shaft 77 when cam 80 passes arm 8l on the return revolution. This action allows the shaft 77 toremain in position in recess 7 8 by depressing arm 81 allowinf;I clockwise rotation sufficient to clear cam 8() on the return movement of bearing 8;

which latter bearing rotates approximately means of a spring- 53, as shown in Fig. l,

when movable circuit lever 62 is returned to 'hook 6l by thev downward motion of field fore 63. I provide a stop 84 adapted to prohibit anti-clockwise motion of shaft 77 when arm 8l comes in contact With cam 80; this stop is engaged by arm 85 (as shown in Fig. l) permanently'-mounted'on shaft u. I also provide means for permitting of the repeating of playing o-f records any desired number of times. Bearing 7 Which car-A ries the turntables l1 is provided with ratchet stops 89 positioned opposite the, turntable shafts la on the side of the bearing 7 in proximity to bearing 8.l Mounted on bearing 8 I provide'a vsmall solenoid coil 86, as shown in Fig. 4, having a slidable steel core 87 which is normally pressed outwardly against the lateral surface of bearing 7, by a suitable Spring l88 contained within the Core 87. 'The core 87 when' in its normal outward position is in position to engage the ratchet stops 89 on bearing 7 and thus to rotate that member and the turntablesl 1l simultaneously with the rotation of bearing 8. IVhen the record is to be repeated such rotation is not desired in bearing 7, as'the turntable supporting the record to be' repeated must remain stationary. To control the current through the solenoid 86, I provide a roller binding vpost which is adapted to inake Contact With a suitable spring contact 92 during a part of the revolution of bearing 8, and thus to complete a circuit through the solenoid 86 and draw thesteel core 87 into the solenoid and out of engage- .nient with ratchet stop 89, allowing bearing 8 to rotate independently of bearing 7,5as will be seen by referring to Figs. 4' and 7., A

I provide a suitable vbrake or ratchet stop spring 95, shown in Fig. 2, in operative engagement with bearing 7 to prevent that inember from revolving ina reverse direction when core 87 is drawn -out of engagement with it into solenoid. 86 during the repeating of a record. This brake functions as a safety device during the repeating of records.

` In order to operate the record carriages 96 and 125, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, after revolving the record turntables 11I provide a switch 93 adapted to be closed by insulated blocks 94 which are mounted on bearing 7 and positioned in the saine relative position as the turntable shaft 14. Switch 93 controls the current through switch magnet 171 which in turn controls the current through solenoid 166.

In order to provide means for holding and placing of selected records on the turntables 11 and to provide for utilizing either a series of ten inch or a series of twelve inch yrecords or any other series of disk records within these limits, I provide a suitable record-holding and ejecting carriage 96, as shown'in Figs. l, 2, 5 and 12, which is snpported by rollers 97 resting on supports 98 which form' theA tracks for saine. I provide side bars 101, shown in' Fig. 12, of carriage 96 which are.movable only longitudinally and in groups of three as the framework of the carriage itself.v These. side bars 101 are provided with transverse slots 101a to receive the toothed rack'slide projections which are integral with bars 102. Bars 102 support the toothed record holding and advancing racks 99 and 100. Racks 99, operating simultaneously in groups of three, are-slidable longitudinally 'to ladvance rece ords in and from the carriage; and are also recedable llaterally to pass back of the reco rds in the carriage one tooth after having advanced them. During this last operation the record at the end near the turntable'4 has been ejected from the carriage 96 onto shaft 14 of the' 'turntable parallel to record. All other records inv carriage 96 have been yadvanced one tooth bringing the next rec- 55 vord to be played to the end of the carriage ready to-be ejected. Toothed ratchet-hold ing stop racks 100, also operating simultaneously1 as groups of three, are movable only laterally, andl operate to hold the record stationary when rac-ks. 99 move backward after having advanced therecords one tooth. .I providesuitable flat steel springs 114 which exert tension on .advancing racks 99 to hold them a ainst the edge of the record and to allow t e racks' to recede when passing lbe-` -of these racks, whereby pins 118 limit the receding or lateral movement of racks 100. I provide levers 120 pivoted on bars 102 by means of pins 122 which act as fiilcrums forlevers 120. Levers 120 have slotted ends which areengaged by pins121 mounted en the toothed record advancing racks 99,

whereby the' latter are actuated t0 produceA the longitudinal movement for the purpose.

of moving the records forwardand also allowing free receding movement in the slots at the ends of the levers 120. These levers 120 are actuated by the spaced stops 123 and 124. These Stops actuate lever 120 on each forward and return movement of carriage 96 and in turn move racks forward to the end of carriage, ejecting a record and advancing the rest on the forward movement and receding behind all 'of the records on the return; this places the rack 99 in position to repeat the operation. It is understood that all three sets of racks 99 and 100 are actuated simultaneously to advance .rec-

ordsevenly and atthe same time support them inA their predetermined position.

`In order to .produce a mechanism for quickly converting the carriage to a size adapted for holding records of various sizes,.

I provide small gears 104 shown in Figs. 5 and 12, which mesh with toothed rack slides 103 of bars 102 and which are mounted on shafts 105,' which .in 'turn are supported in bearings 106. I provide spur gears 107 on the ends 'of shafts 105 Which are utilized to rotatethe shafts andthe gears 104 carried by them; I provide a large gear segment 108 at the end of the record-holding carriage opposite to the one from which the records are ejected, and arranged to mesh with spur gear 107. Segment 108 is provided with a suitable handle 109, whereby the'segment may be manually operated to set the carriage 96, for a particular size of record. This handle 109 causes gear 108 to rotate equally all gears 104 which causes the bars 102 working in groups of three to expand or contract to receive any series of .records from 91/2 to 12 inchesin diameter.

In order to provide means ,for locking segment 108 in any desired adjusted position,

I `Provide a ratchet. lock mounted on releas' ing rod 110, which engages with a suitable segment ratchet 111 mounted on the end member of the carriage '96, the aforesaid ratchet being of like structure and equiva.. lent in operation to vthe ratchet lock 141 shown at the other end ofthe machine and i1- lustrated in Fig. 5. lThe segment 108 is sup. ported in a suitable bearing 113, mounted on the end member of carriage 96.

In order to providel means for holding and receiving the records from the turn tables 11 after the records have been played, I provide a suitable record-receiving carriage 1257 similar to carriage 96 except that the recordholding vand advancing racks 128 and 129 are arranged to take the record from the turntable instead of ejecting it onto the.

turntable and the expanding segment 137 is placed on the end member of carriage 125 at the opposite end. lThis carriage is supported on rollers 126 resting on supports 127 which form tracks for same. I provide side bars 130 of carriage 125 which are movable only longitudinally and as a group of l Vthree forming the framework of the carriage. Side bars 130 are provided with transverse slots 130 to receive toothed rackslide projections 132 which are integral with bars 131. Bars 131 support toothedrecordholding and advancing racks 128 and 1,29. Racks 128 are slidable longitudinally to advance records in the carriage away from the turntable and are also recedablc forward to pass one tooth in front of records held in carriage after being taken from turntable. Toothed racks 129 are movable -only laterally, and operate to hold the records stationi ary when racks 128 move forward a-fter having advanced the record one tooth away suitable similar springs 144 bearing against racks 129; and I provide pins 147 extending into slots 148 in' the end of racks 129, whereby pins 147 limit the lateral or receding movement of said racks. I provide levers 149 pivoted on bars 131 by means of pins 151 which-act as fulcrums for levers 149. Levers 149 have slotted, ends which are cngaged by pins 150 mounted on racks 128 whereby the latter are actuatedl to produce the longitudinal movement for vremoving records from the turntable and advancing those removed on the receiving carriage 125. In order/that the first teeth of racks 128 may pass behind the outer edgeof a teninch record to allow its removal from the turntables'11 I have provided an annular recess 12 in turntablesll. As all twelveinch records extend over the edge of the turntables 11 sutliciently toallow the teeth to grasp therecord, no such provision is made forthe twelve-inch records. Levers 149 are actuated by spaced stops 152 and v153 to produce the longitudinal movement y other desired size between these limits, I have provided an expanding mechanism composed of small gears 133, as shown in Figs. 5 and' 12 which mesh with toothed racks slides 132 of bars 131, and which arelmounted on shafts 134 and which in turn are supported in bearings 135. I provide spur gears 136 on the ends of shafts 134 which function to rotate the shafts and the gears 133 carried by them. 'Iprovide a large gear segment137 at the end of the record-holding carriage 135 positioned to mesh with spur gears 136.' This segment rotates all three of the gears equally, by which action` all three bars 131 are caused to expand or contract to receive any seriesl of various sized records. Segment 137 is provided' with a suitable handle 138 'whereby the segment may be manually operated to adjust the carriage for the particular size of records which itl is desired v to remove from the turntable. I provide a means for locking segment 137 in any .desired adjusted position, consisting of a ratchet lock 141 upon releasing rod 139, which engages with a suitable segment ratchet 14() mounted on the end member of carriage 125 opposite its receiving end. Segment 137 is supported on suitable lbearing 142 mounted on theend member of carriage In order to provide for simultaneously advancing the record-containing carriages 96and 125 toward the turntables 11 whereby the records are deposited and removed -frm the said turntables and returning same to their original positions whereby the advancingr ratchet racks are re-'set for the next shift, Ihavemounted on stationary lever bearing 1,54, as shown in Fig. 8, a central operating lever 155 to which is attached equi-distant. from the center of lever 155, the connecting links 156 and 157 which connect lever 155 with carriages 96 and 125` respectively. To provide for the movement of central lever 155 I have provided a connecting rod 158 attached to end of lever 155 and whose opposite end engages with crank pin 159 on re'- volving crank arm 160. To provide support for crank larm 160 I have supported shaft 161 in bearing 162; the crank arm being mounted on shaft 161,'as shown in Fig. 17. on one end and a. loosely mounted spurgear 163.with its attached ratchet pawl 163a on the other end; this spur gear 163 is'arranged to mesh with toothed Vrack 164. Permanently mounted on shaft 161 engaging ratchet pawl 163a` I provide a ratchet hub 163b to engage with pawl 163 engem-163 130 so that 'same will rotate shaft 161 and arm 160 attached thereto, one complete revolu- This action is made possible when the gear 163 by means of its core 165 and attached rack 164. The 'magnetic switch comprises a switch magnet 171 (this magnet is m'agnetized when switch 93h is closed by in-l sulated block 94 during the rotation of bearing 7);'an L-shaped switch armature 172 mounted on the pivot 173 and provided with a hook 1.76 which is adapted to hold a movable circuit Contact lever 174 lout lof contact with a stationary circuit Contact 175 when the magnet 171 is not excited.

The solenoid 166 has a steel core 165 whiclicarries a rack 164, this rack 164 is in mesh with gear 163. l provide a guide ot U- shaped cross section 168 in which steel core 165 is slidably mounted to keep rack 164 in mesh with' gear 163. Solenoid coil 166 is mounted on a suitable base support 169. I provide a spring 167 on the outer end of core 165 and engaging with outer end of rack 164 to relieve tension on gear 163 whenl core 165 is drawn past the stopping point of rack 164 at the time of restoring movable circuit contact lever 174 to hook on L-shaped armature 172.' y

In orderI to permit of the repeating of records for the desired predetermined unmber of times. IV provide means for prevei'iting the rotation of bearing 7 and turntables 11 after thelplaying ot the record has been completed, allowing the hinged base 24 vto elevate and return the reproducer 65 by gravity to starting positionv on record groove. For determining iu advance. the number of times the record is to he repeated l provide a slide bar Vor table 177. shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 14, provided with dovetailed grooves 179. there being one of these. grooves Jfor each record in the rated .ca-

pacity of carriage 96. Table 177 is slidably mounted on support-178 and its sliding action is controlled by ratchet. rack 183 which is engaged by pavvl 184 supported on bracket 187 of carriage 96 -and actuated -against ratchet rack 188 by spring 185 and elevating stop 186. T provide movable toothed slides 180 mounted in grooves in ta'- ble 177 so that same may be drawn out oi these grooves 179 manually by Ameans ot small knobs 182, apredetermined number of teeth to correspond with the number of times the particular record which it represents is .to be repeated.4 The capacity of toothed slides 180 on table 177 is the same as the capacity of the reeord-holding"carL riage 96. liiuorder to hold the movable toothed slides in vthe position set l provide springs 181 operatively engaging each of the toothedslides 180. Mounted in front or" traveling table 177 'and parallel with movable toothed slides l providea pronged spring switch 1.94,4 each side ot' which car- 4riesan electric current of the circuit operating the solenoid coil 86.` s slidingtable 177 is advanced by the movement forward which extend away from the table the `re quired number oi notchesi'or repeating .their respective records, enter into engage- Vof carriage 96 these movable toothed slides shaft 189 which in turn is supported on bearings 190. Gear 188 is adapted to mesh with movable toothed slides 180 assame are advanced by means of rack 188, which operation is Icaused by the forward motion ot' carriage 96.

To provide for the rotation of gear 188 I have provided on thel opposite end of shaft 189 a ratchet gear 191, as shown in Fig. 8 which is actuated by a pawl lever' 192 mounted on hinged base 24 ,when saine is elevated and lowered'. The action of pawl lever 192 is controlled by gravity. 0n the lowering oi hinged base 24 pawl lever 192 engages with ratchet wheel 191, causing same to rotate one tooth. As gear'191 and spurgear 188 are permanently mounted on shaft 189, such rot-ation causes movable4 topthed slide 180 to recede into dove-tailed groove 17 9,1 to the extent of one tooth. Electric switch 194 being mounted close to sliding table177, continues to be closed as long -as any moyabletoothed slide extends therein so that it is -neeessar for :tone arm on hinged base24 to raise and .ower the redetermined number of times set tor recor repeat in order to cause any extended movable toothed slide to recede completely away from between prongs of electric switch '1194. `As long as switch194 is closed by any of them movable slides 180, the core of'solenoid 86 remains Withdrawn from engagement .with ratchet stops 89 on bearing 7, allowing bearing 8 which raises hinged base 24 to revolve independent of bearin 7, allowing the turn' tables to be unchanged. Binding posts 195 motor 41v at a voltage pressure -of 110 volts,

aA circuit is taken directly from posts 197 and 198 and controlled by motor switch 199 mounted conveniently in the eabinetg' the motor 41 is necessary to cause rotation of the turntables as same come into playing position and operates no other part of the. mechanism. As the magnets and solenoids used in the operation of the mechanism are to be operated on a six-volt current to prevent electric shock of operator (due-to current passing through metallic parts of .machine), I provide a transformer 201 to reduce the 11G-volt circuit to one of six volts. I may if desired provide a suitable condenser coil 202 whose action is to prohibit any arcing of current at contact points. To control circuit between binding post 197 and 198, and transformer 201, I provide a conventional electric switch 200.

The operation 'ofthe electric circuits, as shown in Fig. `16, is a's-follows: The closing of switch 199 starts rotation of turntable which is elevated in playing position. The closing of switch 200 introduces main 110- volt current into transformer 201. The cur- -rent rleaves transformer 201 at six volts through bus-bars'A and B, which supply current through the various coils-operating the machine from this transformed current.

lYhen` metalspring brush 74 carried by reproducer 65, comes in contact with metal plate 75 carried4 by the record which has finished playing,l it closes the electric circuit which starts where the current is tapped Cil from main bus-bar B, at C, entering switch magnet l59 and leaving same at D, follow-- ing wire E to binding post placed on any metal part of the machine excepting the insulated hinged-base 24 (shown in Figs. g

'. tact with and raise movable contact arms 62 and 4*) which is insulated from .the rest of the machine in order to separately carry' the current to the reproducer brush 74. This grounds the circuit to all' metal parts except the tone arm assembly, allowing it tovfollow to theturntable shafts 14 where .metallic contact is made with metal strip 7 on record, through spring brush 74 and reproducer carriage 66' (shown in Fig. 4) to wire F, completing circuit atG With main busbar A.

v l. The' closing `of .the above-described. cirl cuit energizes switch magnet 59 whichv attractsfL-shaped magnet 60, causing hook 64 to'release movable circuit contact lever 62, which falls in' contact with' stationary circuit contact 63. 'Ihis action closes the circ'uit, energizing solenoid 56. This circuit starts at H where current istapped from main bus-bar B, entering solenoid 56 at I and leaving same at J, where it is led to movable circuit contact lever 62 bywire K within the solenoid, in turn causing toothed rack 52' to revolve gear 51 and gear 48 fmountedon shaft 49. Therevolving of gear 48, which is in mesh 'with gear 9 mounted on Abearing 8 causes bearing 8 to revolve. T he revolving of bearing 8 by means of description heretofore given raises the tone arm and `revolves bearing 7, bringing the, nevi1 turntable with the next record into playing position; and returning reproducer by gravity to the starting point of the record just brought into position for playing;

After the rotatable bearing 7 has revolved through one-fourth of its are (that is b approximately), insulated block 94 compresses contact points on switch 93 which completes the circuit to magnetic switchi 170. As shown in Fig. 16, this circuit receives current from bus-bar B at N and entering switch magnetv by wire O at P, leaving. same at Q and following wire R to switch 93, through' this switch by wire S to m'ain bus-bar A at T. The closing of this circuit excites coil 171 and attracts armature .17 2, thus causing hook 176 onl armature 172 to release movablev circuit contact lever.174, which drops in contact with stationary circuit contact 175. The dropping of this contact completes the circuit through solenoid coil 166, by receiving current from bus-,bar B .at U, entering solenoid at V and leaving samevat W through wire X to movable contact lever 174 through stationary contact lever 175 and. wire Y, completing circuit with bus-bar A at Z.

The inward movement of the steel cores in solenoids 56and 166 causes these-cores on their. extreme inward motion to come in con? and 174, causing them to break contact with stationary circuit arm 175 and catch in the tehes 58v -and 170 act primahooks of L-shaped armatures 60'and'172 tion the permanent switches at movable cirlcuit arm levers 62 4and 175. This is neces` 'sary because the closing ofeontact betweenl brush on reprod'ucer 65 andplate 75 on record is only momentary, andvwould not con-- 93, which is only momentarilyclosed during the revolving of bearing 7, but which trips permanent contact switch at lever 174 to allow continuous current through solenoid- 166 until core of same trips this arm 174 and l opens'the circuit after the full power stroke i has beenapplied.

When it ,is-desired to repeat a-'record any one of the movable .toothedslides 180, as shown in F ig. 14, corresponding to the particular record to be repeated,.is drawn out of, sliding table 177, the number `of'notchesl corresponding to the number of times it is desired that that particular record be repeated.- These sliding toothed bars v180 are set manually before the machine is started, to control the number of times any desired record is to be repeated. As bar 170 advances, any of these slides l80projecting out one or ,more teeth, enter betweensprings of electrical spring switch 194; these enterjthe switch in the order in which the records to be repeated are placed in the carriage and thereby close the circuit at the' switch. This allows current to flow to roller contact 91 through spring contact 92 ofsolenoid coil -86, mounted on bearing 8; when this solenoid due to rotation of bearing 8 comes in contact with'vspring 92 by means of roller 91. Such contacttakes place during the time the steel core 87 passes ratchet stop 99.

Referring lt`o Fig. 16, the circuit is complet-l -ed as'follows: Current i's taken from busebar B. at AA through wire BB to bindingfpost 195'on spring contact switch 194, through toothed slide 180 and out at' binding post 196, through wires CC to spring contact 92 where roller 91 on solenoid 8 6 receives the current leading it into the coil winding when solenoid coil 86 -is rotated past-the spring contact 924by bearing 8; this closes the circuit during the time steel core 87 passes ratchetv stop 89. By this means no current is allowed .toiow throughsolenoid 86 before or after roller contact 91 comes in contact withspring- 92 causing a saving of. current if the repeat is set for more than one time; this is necessary, for ifroller 91 wasin'permanent lcontact with spring y92 the current would flow continuously through solenoid- S6 during thisentire time causing thewindig to heat andwaste current. The current flows out of" solenoid 86 at- DD through wire EE completing circuit with bus-bar A at FF. f

A suit-able number of gummed metal plates 75, asshown in Figs.' 10 and 11, will be supplied with each machine for attaching to the various records to be played on the machine. These lmetal plates 7 5 will be" prepared with a gummed side withV one'end cut on a circular arreter/conform with the arc kof thelast tone th'i'ead of the average record, and will be applied to theV records by plates are of soft metal, Va pencil or any suitable vstylus can be used to pierce a hole through them` corresponding to lthat in' the center of the record. One offthese metal plates is applied to both sides of-,the double disk recordand only to the playing 'side of a single disk record. l

It is Within the contemplation of myinvention to replace solenoids 56-and 166 by'v small lback geared electric motors of conventional type, such as illustrated in Fig. 20, to act as the actuating elements of the apparatus performing the ,same functions as the solenoids; these motors to be used inv cases where the source of electric power, consists of special currents of varying tion -of the solenoids unsatisfactory.

I prefer to provide in motor 41,- as shown in Figs.v land 3, an unusually heavy and large diametered armature 203, such as illustrated, which will act as a' fly-.wheel to steady'the rotation of the motor shaft sup porting friction wheel 42. Such regulated speed of motor 41 will necessarily impart same regulated 'speed to turntable which it drivesand make reproduction of sound of record more nearly true. y

In order to operate the phonograph' it is necessary that the record-holding'carriages 96 and v125 be expanded to suit the size of the'- records 4in the series to be played. The first recordto be played is placed on the upper turntable which is in position for playing the record; the vsecond' record is placed on the turntable, at the left hand leo side parallel to the record-ejecting carriage 96, and the lsubsequent records of the series are then placed in the carriage 96 from right to left in the order in which same are i to be played. The repeating table 177 is 'then manually set so as to provide the means for repeating any of the records which are to be played a given number of times. This is done by drawing out the'variou's toothed -slides 180 on table 177, the requirednumber -of notches corresponding to the number of times the individual records are to be repeated.' As it is assumed that under ordinary circumstances there would be no call forv more thanv tive repeats of a given record, I have arranged the repeating mechanism for .that number. The carriage 177 is then moved to lthe extreme left so as to bring number one toothed slide opposite the spring switch 194. The switches 199 90 cycles and 'volts which might make opera f behind the onto the turntable.

machine is stopped. This time switch can be set to allow for stopping or starting at any predetermined time.

The action 4ofthe machine-inthe .proper sequence of the various parts is as follows: lVhen the'end of a record is reached by the needlethe contact of metal brush 74 with metal plate 7 5 onthe record closes' the circuit through the magnetic switch 58 which in turn controls solenoid 56 causing operations allowing the rotation of turntables and the elevation of the tone arm. This action brings record number two to playing position andplaccs record number one opposite receiving carriage 125,y bringing an empty turntable parallel to carriage 96 ready to receive record number three. During the rotation of the turntables switch 93 is closed, causing magnetic switch 171 to complete circuit through solenoid 166. The closing of this circuit causes core 165 to recede within the solenoid 166 and operate the levers which advance and return the carriages simultaneously. (The lower turntable does not carry any records but is used as a reserve disk to receive the records from carriage 96 at the proper time.) As the carriages 96 and 125 advance the next or third record is ejected onto the turntable at theleft, and held by means ot pin 14; record number one at this time is removed from the turntable at the right. During the receding or return motionof carriages 96 and 125 the advancing racks 99 and 128, acting in groups of three, have passed records and are ready to eject and receive records at the next change. The racks 99 in'` groups of three move all records ahead on the advancing carriage 96 when the third record is ejected The racks 128 advance the record number one away from the turntable on the .retreat of the carriage 128. The tripping of magnet switch 158 by core 53 causes the reproducer to lower onto the record and the lead screw 28 to engage with half nut`72. The releasing of magnet switch 170 by core 1651eturns the core to extended position ready 4for the next advancement of the carriages.

Record number two is then played and the operation as described is repeated. This operation continues until all the records in the series have been played. f

lVh-en a record is to be repeated solenoid 56 alone is operated as the carriages are not required to advance. As the' turntables do not revolve during arepeat switch 93 remains open and by A'so doing leaves. solenoid 166 inoperative; this allows Jfor the elevating and lowering prohibits the revolution r'of bearing 7 and the turntables. At, each lowering of the tone arm any toothed'repeating lslide extending into the spring switch 194 is receded into its supporting table 177 until such slideis receded entirely a-way from the switch 194. This breaks the contact with -solenoid 86 and allows the next record to yslides are not extended no'contact Lis made with switch 194 and therefore a change of records will result. The word turntables as used in this specification is to be construed as including within its scope any suitable record holding member.

yThat I claim is: j

1. In a phonograph, the combination with a record-rotating carrier, of a record magazine, means for positioning saidcarrier to receive a record, mechanism for shitting a record from said magazine on said carrier, and'means forfpositioning said carrierl for playing.

2. Inv a phonograph, the combination ,with a record-rotating carrier, of a record magazine, means for kpositioning said carrier to receive a record, mechanism for shifting a record from said magazine on said carrier, means for positioning said carrier for playing. and means for taking the record from said carrier.

3. ln a phonograph, the combination with a record-rotating carrier having a series of playing tables, of a record magazine, mechanism for taking a record from one of said tables while another record is taken from said magazine and placed on another ofv said tables, and means t'or successively positioning said tables for playing.

4. l'n an automatic electrically controlled phonograph, the combination of means for holding a series of records, a plural-ity of rotatable turntables on V.which the records 'are successively applied, means :tor automatically applying successive records to the turntables, means for automatically and successively receiving the series of records from the turntables, and means for kholding a of the reproducer but plurality of turntables infafsuitable pre- 1- determined position *While vone of thev turntables is rotated for playing they record. 5. In an automatic electrically controlled phonograph, the combinationof means for holding Aa series of records, means for adfjusting said holding meansto accommodate series of records of d iiferent diameters, a plurality of rotatableturntables'on which the records are successively applied, means for applying the records successively to the turntables While the turntables are in a predetermined position, means for receiving the series 'lof records from the turntables and holding same, means for adjusting said recelving and holdln means to accommodate serles of records o dlfferent diameters, and

means'zfor removing the records from the 1 turntables. i

c. In an automatic electrically operated phonograph. having a sound amplifying chamber, the combination ofV revoluble means extending around the sound amplify-` ling chamberl for supporting a plurality of turntables, a plurality lof turntables rotatably mounted on said revoluble means,

and' means for rotating one of the turntables when in playing position.

7. In an automatic electrically'operated phonograph, the combina-tion of revoluble means.' for supporting av plurality of turntables, the turntable Which'is uppermost andV horizontalv being in playing position,V

means for rotlating the turntable which. is

in playing position, means for successively placing a series of disc records' on the turntables, and means for successively removing they discl records from the turntables, said `record-removing'means being' connected to and operated simultaneously with the rec ord-'applying means.

8. -In an automatic phonograph, the combination of revoluble means for supporting a plurality of turntables, the turntable which is uppermost and horizontal being in playing position, means for rotating the turntable which is in playing position, means for successively playing a series of disc type records on the turntables, means for revolving the element on which the plurality lofl turntables Aare supported at the completion of each playing of a record im- Inediately4 on the conclusion of the playing, and means for successively vremoving the disc records from the turntablesater they' yhas been played, for permittingof the reeating of an one or more of the series of P e .Y

'records for a predetermined number of times `Without interfering with -the auto-- matic action.' of the machine in successively playing and removing of the records' on and from the turntables. f

10.1' In combination with the apparatus described in claiml8, the combination of means for applying a record to one of the turntables, and other means for simultaneously removing the played record vfrom another of the turntables, and means for adjusting both record shifting means to handle series of records of different diameters.

11. -In an automatic phonograph, the` i combination of revoluble means for supporting a plurality of turntables, a plurality of turntables rotatably mounted on saidrevoluble ymeans, means for holding in operative spaced position a series A of disk recordsto be played, said mea-ns being arranged to permit of the removal and replacement of any `record or `recordsde 1 si'red without disturbing other records, means' for applyingsaid records to the turntables. means for 'successivel removing records from the Vturntables a ter the records have been played, means for holding the'series of records that have been played,

said meanspermitting of the removal of any 'desired record therefrom Without-.disturbin 'other records.

12. n an automatic phonograph, a record holding .carriage adapted. to hold a series of records to be played and having meansto advance said recordsl successively and position them on a turntable,said means comprising a plurality of toothed bars adapted to support the vrecords in spaced 'relation, a second set of toothed bars arranged to advance the records one tooth at a time inthe carriage, resilient means normally holding said barsin contact with the records but permitting of a limited receding movement, the last named bars being arranged to permit of a limited longitudinal.

13. In combination with the mechanism movement for advancing the records.

described in claim 9, manually operated means for relatively movingl said tooth bals to adapt the carriage to liold series of disk records of different diameters.

14. In'an automatic phonograph, the combination of toothed bars adapted to support records 'in spaced relation, and means adapt- -ed to be moved into and out off engagement with the edges of the records to move the records longitudinally of the toothed bars to advance the records toward playing position, substantially as set `forth.

1.5. In an automatic phonograph, revoluble means for supporting a plurality of turntables, the turntable which is uppermost.

and horizontal being in playingl position, means for rotating the turntable which is in playing posi-tion, means for revolving the revoluble means to bring succeeding turn- 

